Chelsea Transfer News: Latest on Raphael Varane and Jose Mourinho's Targets

Raphael Varane’s long-term future with Real Madrid is apparently on a knife edge, with reports suggesting the defender is seriously considering a transfer this summer and that Chelsea are apparently interested in the player.

According to Le10Sport (h/t Ben Jefferson of the Daily Express) the French centre-back has come to a “pivotal point” in his career with Los Blancos, and despite being a major part of the club’s long-term plans, is apparently concerned about the lack of first-team football he’s getting.

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Jefferson claims the Blues made a £30 million offer for the young defender in January, but if they want to land him this summer then they could face stern competition from Manchester United. Here’s a look at why the defender is rated so highly:

Despite his obvious quality, Varane has only started 14 games in La Liga all season for Real, per WhoScored.com, with the duo of Sergio Ramos and Pepe clearly Carlo Ancelotti’s first choice. In fairness, that pairing has thrived for the majority of the campaign, but with the latter now 32 years old, there will surely come a time soon when a change of personnel will occur.

Indeed, Varane has showcased at international level exactly what he can do given the opportunity, per OptaJean:

A move to a club like Chelsea may appeal to the youngster too. After all, he knows Jose Mourinho well from the Portuguese’s stint as a boss at the Santiago Bernabeu and while the Blues have a clutch of quality defensive options in situ, the prospect of a long-term partnership between youngsters like Varane and Kurt Zouma is a tantalising one.

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As noted by Sport Witness, there are plenty of outlets reporting the Blues’ interest in the player too:

But you wonder just how willing Madrid will be to sell. The club are a little light as it is when it comes to central defensive options and as such, you can’t imagine they’ll be too keen to relinquish the services of arguably the very best young defender in European football. As such, don’t expect Varane to be going anywhere this summer.

Jose Mourinho Talks Raheem Sterling

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The Chelsea boss admitted if he was in Liverpool’s position he would sell Raheem Sterling, as speculation continues to rage regarding the future of the Reds sensation.

Sterling revealed in an interview with BBC Sport he has rejected a contract offer from the Anfield outfit, and that’s prompted a series of reports linking the player with a move away. Chelsea are one of those sides touted as potential suitors, per Chris Wheeler of the Daily Mail.

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As noted by Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail, Mourinho has claimed that if he had a player in a similar situation, they’d quickly be out the door:

"

I don't like players that don't want to play for me and my club. My opinion is every player has a price.

It doesn't matter which player. If you ask me, for example, do I want Eden Hazard to leave Chelsea? No. If he wants to leave and doesn't want to work with me, doesn't want to play for Chelsea, does he have a price? I think he has.

But I also understand the philosophy of managers and clubs who want to keep the players at any price. My philosophy is not better than that, it's just mine.

"

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While Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has insisted Sterling will not be sold this summer, per Mokbel’s piece, it’s clear all is not well with the player. With two years left on his contract at the end of the current campaign, the pressure on the Reds to cash in on Sterling will grow provided he doesn’t sign, and that will naturally keep big names interested.

Given the demands reportedly turned down by the player, Sterling has naturally come in for plenty of criticism from those within the footballing stratosphere. But former England striker Gary Lineker thinks the player is within his rights to consider options away from Anfield:

Chelsea probably isn’t a likely destination, though. Not only have the Reds and the Blues fashioned a bitter rivalry in recent years, but given the talent Mourinho’s men boast in the areas of the pitch Sterling operates, it’s not a transfer that would ensure Sterling a critical role at one of European football’s top club sides.

The 20-year-old has plenty to learn, and at this juncture, the best place for him to refine his talents would be at Anfield. But the player clearly seems to think otherwise, and while it looks unlikely to materialise, it’d be no surprise to see Chelsea make their interest clear should the Merseysiders decide to sell up.